The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-13
FRIGHTENED LIQUOR DEALERS.
The Maine RumseIIers on the Run
Very Few Licenses Taken Out.

Very Few Licenses Taken Out.
Correspondence Of the Boston Herald
The new liquor law in Maine Is placing
| the dealers in intOxicants on tho ragged edge
| There is more grip in the law than In any
temperance enactment for the suppression Of
the liquor traffic since the day the original
| Maine law was passed. Outside Of a few
cities, the liquor traffic is practically sus-
| pended.
In Augusta, liquor famine prevails, such
as has never been known before. One Of the
most notorious dealers there, who has paid
thousands Of dollars In fines, and repeatedly
suffered Incarceration In jail for his persist
| ent violations Of law, has retired from busi-
ness. And the druggist not only refuses to
sell unmixed liquor. but even physicians
prescription containing alcohol is taboOed.
| County Attorney Carleton has given out that
he intends to Theoretically seal up every
place in Kennebec county where liquor Is
sold. In Waterville, the other day, he asked
an officer how many drug stores there were
in that town, and was told six. 'How many
can do the legitimate business Of the town."
was his next inquiry He was told two.
Then will drive the other four out OF the
business" was his answer, and there Is every
word.
The law in Cumberland county will be rig
orously enforced. Many Portland citizens
are now getting their supplies Of liquors
from Boston dealers, and the jug trade Is be-
coming brisk. The liquor now sold In Port
land Is disposed Of in the most clandestine
manner. At the hotels many Of the guests
bring their own stimulants with them, and
get the landlords to provide them with tum-
blers, sugar and ice water, and the services
Of the row-boys without returning any COM
pensation.
High Sheriff McFadden, Of Kennebe conn
ty, has also made late visit to Eastport for
the purpose Of procuring lists Of liquor tax
payers. 1t Is going to be serious business,
Tor those who contribute to Uncle Sans
liquor revenue, for the reason that the pay
ment OF United States tax Is to be taken as
/ evidence Of guilt. This Is now the time for
| the renewal Of United States licenses for the
new year, the old licenses having expired on
the LIST inst. The excise tax that the govern
ment derived last year from retail liquor
| licenses, was about $4,000 The new law
has 50 driven liquor sellers TO the wall that
DIS revenue promises to be cut down TO a
mete kagatelle.
Our corrtspondent called upon Collector
hednan at EfnNorth 70 ascertain how many
liquor licenses hadeiready been taken out.
out. One hundred anu deven Is the total
| number thus far, against 3sfssned Last year
| at this time. In the first coliettAn diyi3ic5n,
| OF which Portland Saco and Bddsr5id are
the largest places, 2S have been taken out.
In the second division, Of which Lewiston,
| Auburn, Augusta, HallOwell Gardiner Bath
| and R0ckland are the largest places, six have
| been issued. In the third and remaining d.
| vision, In which Bangor, Belfast, Ellsworth,
Calais, Eastport and Houlton are the largest
| places, n licenses have been taken ont. and
most Of these have been issued to Bangor
| parties. Scarcely hotel license In the State
| has been granted, the number Of applica-
tions made coming from Bangor.
The Bar Harbor bOnifaces are In tribula-
IN "a "a mt
| Quite naturally they feel very indignant over
the severity OF the law, when they derive
such harvest Of dollars from the sale Of
liquid refreshments TO their guests during
/ the summer season. The hotel keepers at
/ other summer resorts are also very nervous,
/ and hardly know what TO do. AS yet none
| OF them have taken out a license, but It Is
| highly probable that all Of them will before
the month Is out and then they will try and
/ run the gauntlet. Alarge number OF private
| clubhouses which are showing up are paving
/ special liquor tax. Many Of the clubs are
i being formed in Portland.
But few apOthecaries have paid the govern
ment liquor tax. They appear to be very
/ anxious 70 have test case made up for the
! United States Supreme Court, 10 ascertain
/ whether the prtmd tdcie evidence clause In
/ the law Is constitutional. The matter Is
| likely TO get into the court for decision
/ sooner or later. Most Of the licenses granted
| by Collector Redman are confined TO the
dram shops. The larger portion Of the
II
| ers has so far been paid by Bangor parties,
| in which city there seems to be no diminu-
| ti0n In the traffic. The hotels and saloons
make no attempt at eoncealment in supply
i ing the wants OF thirsty mOrtals. The drug
| gists are not selling as openly as they did.
but the tried and trusted experience no difli-
| Guilty In getting their needs supplied In
short, Bangor Is the only place in the State
Is talk Of establishing United States bond
ed warehouse there for imported liquors.
Numerous inquiries are being made Of
Collector Redman as to the liability Of
apothecaries doing business without the
payment Of a special liquor tax, and also as
to what patent medicines and bittors can bo
sold without license; also whether there Is
any way OF eyading the taking out Of a
| gagged in business, by putting an assumed
| name In the license. To this last inquiry
the collector has promptly replied that no
| license can be taken out under an assumed
| name. It may be Of interest 10 state that
when an application is made for a special
tax certificate 1t must be subscribed and
sworn to by the applicant. Consequently IL
would be an evasion to pretend to swear for
a fictitious individual.
An applicant being compelled to make
oath, the question arises can a state court
require the production for use In a criminal
| proceeding against him Of written evidence
thus extorted from him, by the United
| states. purely Tor revenue purposes. An al
phabetical list Of all taxpayers is conspicu-
| Ously placed IN the ONCE OF the collector.
Judge Redman says this list Is always open
to the public, except when the examination
of it interferes with the transaction OF his
official business. In cOnVersing with him be
remarked: This Office is Of the people.
We have to answer TO the people. They can
make or unmake us. II seems especially
proper that any evidence we have in our
| possession the people should have access to
when II will not interfere with the transac-
ti0n Of official business, and this very con-
tingency IS provided for by sec. 324O OF the
United States revenue laws.
| In further conversation with Collector Red
man, he remarked that TO compel him 10 be-
come an itinerant witness, travelling from
county TO county and district TO district
would greatly interfere with the duties OF
his office, or to compel deputy, especially
at this busy season Of the year, would great
| ly embarrass the business arrangements of
state and district, There are sixteen
counties in the State; with something
over forty terms of nisi prius. and at least
thrty-twO grand Juries meeting. IF a way
| was not provided whereby all information
that VIC could properly disclose could come
TO the people" says the collector. "then per-
haps II would be properly demanded Of
collector TO go 10 court and give evidence.
| Maine has three deputy collectors Of internal
| revenue and one collector. This Is the entire